IJRC Events

IJRC regularly hosts events and trainings intended to raise awareness of human rights issues and advocacy opportunities, and to build connections among activists and attorneys working to address inequalities and injustices. To keep informed of IJRC events in the San Francisco Bay Area, write to ijrc@ijrcenter.org to be added to the Bay Area Human Rights email list.

Upcoming Events

San Francisco Human Rights Night 2017

Join us on Thursday, December 7 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 39 Drumm Street, San Francisco for the sixth annual Human Rights Night.

We’ll gather again to reflect on the the highs and lows for human rights in 2017, raise a glass to the 69th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of HumanRights, and catch up with friends and colleagues from around the Bay Area. Find holiday gifts, unique Bay Area experiences, and more by participating in the silent auction.

Human Rights Happy Hours

IJRC hosts Human Rights Happy Hours in San Francisco in order to provide a forum for discussion of human rights topics of concern, highlight local advocates’ work to advance civil rights and social justice, and give community members an opportunity to interact and share information.

David Kaye on global threats to free expression online

On November 7, 2017, the International Justice Resource Center co-sponsored a talk organized by the Wikimedia Foundation and Mozilla, with United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, about the increasing challenges to freedom of expression and other human rights in the digital age.

David Kaye is the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and an international legal expert who heads the International Justice Clinic at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. As Special Rapporteur, David has raised global awareness of key free speech concerns, including protection of whistleblowers and online anonymity. He visits countries around the world to document and promote respect for freedom of expression, and is one of the United Nations’ most high-profile experts.

This event was part of the Wikimedia Foundation “Free Open Shared” series of talks. Watch the video on YouTube.

Police Brutality & Surveillance in the Online Era

On October 18, 2017, IJRC organized a timely discussion with Malkia Cyril, DeRay Mckesson, Kristian Lum, and Nicole A. Ozer on police brutality and surveillance in communities of color. See the flyer for additional details.

We heard from these inspiring speakers on the grave problems of excessive use of force and discrimination in policing, the challenges of data collection, and the role of technology and media as tools of both advocacy and oppression. Watch the video on our YouTube page.

This panel is part of IJRC’s “Human Rights Happy Hour” discussion series, intended to bring local advocates together to learn and build connections on timely rights issues. We are grateful to the Human Rights Data Analysis Group, Center for Media Justice, the ACLU of Northern California, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International USA, Asylum Access, Center for Justice & Accountability, Human Rights Advocates, and the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley School of Law for their co-sponsorship.

Human Rights in the Time of Trump

This July 2017 event explored the topic of what the 2016 U.S. election will mean for human rights advocacy at home and abroad. Panelists discussed the strategies advocates are using to identify the Trump Administration’s priorities, foster collaboration with civil society, push back against policies and actions that harm human rights, and encourage progressive U.S. leadership on the world stage.

Proving Genocide: The Prosecution of Radovan Karadzic

On July 28, 2016, IJRC co-organized a panel providing a behind-the-scenes look at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia’s landmark conviction of Radovan Karadzic for the genocide in Srebrenica and other crimes. The panel was followed by an informal wine and cheese reception. Sponsors included IJRC, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Center for Justice & Accountability, and Human Rights Advocates. Additional details are available here.

Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age

IJRC hosted an intimate and informal evening reception with David Kaye, the United Nations-appointed expert on freedom of expression, on the evening of March 31st, 2016.

David Kaye is the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and an international legal expert who heads the International Justice Clinic at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. As Special Rapporteur, David has raised global awareness of key free speech concerns, including protection of whistleblowers and online anonymity. He visits countries around the world to document and promote respect for freedom of expression, and is one of the United Nations’ most high-profile experts.

Earlier in March 2016, he weighed in on the dispute over Apple’s encryption of the iPhone, advising the judge deciding FBI’s search warrant request on the international human rights standards relevant to encryption and freedom of expression.

This event was co-sponsored by Amnesty International, Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, Human Rights Advocates, and the International Law & Practice Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

International Law Professionals’ Happy Hour

IJRC partnered with the American Society of International Law’s New Professionals Interest Group and The Public International Law Committee of the International Law Section of The State Bar of California to host this evening mixer for current practitioners, new professionals, and those interested in entering the field of international law. This event was held on November 5, 2015 at the 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco. Visit our Flickr page to see photos from the happy hour.

Baseball in the Time of Cholera Film Night

At the February 13, 2014 Human Rights Happy Hour, we gathered to watch the critically-acclaimed short film, Baseball in the Time of Cholera, a 28-minute view into the world of human rights lawyer Mario Joseph and his fight to ensure justice and accountability for the thousands of lives lost in the 2010-2012 Haiti cholera outbreak. Following the film, attorney Nicole Phillips provided an explanation and update of the groundbreaking case seeking accountability from the United Nations for its role in the outbreak.

ICCPR Review Update

At the November 2013 Human Rights Happy Hour, Nasrina Bargzie, the National Security and Civil Rights attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus and co-chair of the US Human Rights Network’s ICCPR Taskforce, presented an overview of the ongoing review of the United States government’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Challenging Surveillance of Muslims in America

The April 2013 Human Rights Happy Hour featured Glenn Katon, Legal Director of Muslim Advocates, who discussed the organization’s ongoing work to end discriminatory government practices targeting American Muslims, including Hassan, et al. v. City of New York, a pending lawsuit challenging the NYPD’s extensive faith-based surveillance.

Annual Human Rights Day Celebrations

IJRC hosted our fifth annual San Francisco Human Rights Night on December 9, 2016. Together with partner organizations, we hosted an informal evening reception in celebration of Human Rights Day, to allow attendees to connect with human rights defenders from around the Bay Area and learn about current advocacy initiatives. In 2016, the event also featured a silent auction, with proceeds supporting human rights educational and networking events in 2017.

To see information about previous San Francisco Human Rights Night events, visit our Eventbrite page or go directly to the celebrations in 2012,2014, and 2015.

In December 2011, IJRC hosted Boston Human Rights Night, an evening reception and discussion panel bringing together the legal, academic, and social justice communities of the Boston area to celebrate human rights, learn about one another’s work, and discuss international advocacy tools available to them. The panelists were: Gabor Rona (Human Rights First), Martha Davis (Program on Human Rights & the Global Economy), Christy Fujio (Physicians for Human Rights), Laura Rotolo (American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts) and John Cerone (New England Law).

Select Trainings & Speaking Events

From Oakland to Ferguson: Stories from lawyers challenging racial discrimination in the U.S. criminal justice system

IJRC is pleased to co-sponsor a panel discussion organized by Human Rights Advocates on the topic of racial discrimination in the American criminal justice system.

When: Tuesday, October 21st from 5:00 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.

Where: University of San Francisco School of Law, Kendrick Hall, Room 103

Women’s Rights Training: June 19, 2014

The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) organized training seminar on women’s human rights in June 2014.

Experts in international human rights law and women’s rights shared insights and examples with advocates and attorneys whose work involves violence against women, discrimination against women and girls, and reproductive health. Speakers included: Katrina Anderson (Center for Reproductive Rights), Rosa Celorio (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights), Lisa Davis (MADRE and CUNY School of Law), Connie de la Vega (University of San Francisco School of Law), Krishanti Dharmaraj (IANGEL), Ejim Dike (US Human Rights Network), Caroline Bettinger-Lopez (University of Miami School of Law), and Julianne Cartwright Traylor (University of San Francisco).

This training was designed to enable lawyers and other advocates to incorporate human rights advocacy strategies into their work, whether on behalf of individual clients or to bring about changes in policy and practice.

View the background materials here and the videos of each session here.

Human Rights Advocacy Training: June 2013

On June 11 and 12, 2013, IJRC organized an international human rights advocacy training conference entitled, “The International Human Rights Framework: Opportunities for Social Justice & Civil Rights Advocates.” Separate panel discussions, led by some of the country’s most experienced practitioners, focused on the United Nations human rights mechanisms, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, domestic litigation of international norms, local and state level implementation of human rights standards, and documenting human rights abuses.

Other Past Trainings

On June 5, 2013, IJRC’s Executive Director gave a one-hour training on the Inter-American human rights system and its application to asylum, at the invitation of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.

On February 13, 2012, IJRC’s Executive Director participated on a panel, “International Human Rights Lawyering: Career Pursuits and Pro Bono Practice” at Boston University School of Law.

September 2011 Training

On September 11, 2011 IJRC presented a training workshop on “Effective Civil Society Organization Engagement with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights” at the 2011 CIVICUS World Assembly in Montreal, Canada.

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About IJRC

The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) informs, trains, and advises advocates and individual victims on using international and regional human rights protections to advance justice and accountability in their communities.